Burundi’s Sada Nahimana showed class against her Brazilian opponent to emerge the champion in the first leg of the women’s singles of the Lagos Open Tennis Championship on Sunday.
The 18 year old who is visiting Nigeria first time and making her debut in the tournament, played with a lot of finesse in the final and became the toast of the fans against Brazil’s Laura Pigozzi.
The Brazilain had clinched the first set 6-2 but in the second set the debutant Burundian found her form as she claimed the set at 6-4.
Burundi’s Sada Nahimana returns a serve during the first leg of the Lagos Open
The deciding set brought out the best in the players but it was the African sensation that laughed last with a 6-3 win to become the new champion of the women’s singles.
In the men’s singles, Frenchman Calvin Hemery was in charge throughout the final match against Bahrain’s Setkic Aldin, and after one hour and six minutes, he came out victorious against the Asian star.
Hemery toppled his opponent 6-1, 6-2 to be crowned the champion in the first leg of the competition.
Meanwhile some Nigerian players that began their campaign in the qualifying round of the second leg have reaffirmed their intention to cause upsets against their foreign counterparts.
In some of the matches played, Albert Bikom defeated American Dustin Goldenberg 6-3, 6-2 while Slyvester Emmanuel had a ride over compatriot – Augustine Stephen 6-2, 6-4.
Among the Nigerian stars aiming for good outing in the second leg is Oyinlomo Quadre and Joseph Imeh who were given wildcards to compete from the main draw which serves off today.
Quadre exited the first leg in the second round while Imeh had to retire his second round match following a knee injury.